The 17-year-old central defender and fellow teenage Academy graduate Phil Foden both started and found the target in what was a solid display against the spirited League Two opposition.
Fellow teenager Tommy Doyle also gained valuable further first team experience, coming on as a second half substitute.
And reflecting on the win, the central defender said it was another vital part of the youngsters’ overall education.
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“We are just doing all we can to show the manager that we are capable of playing,” said Harwood-Bellis.
“When we do get the chance, we want to try and take it.”
It was an especially memorable occasion for Harwood-Bellis, as he netted his first senior goal, with a deflected effort off John Stones’ second half shot, with the effort being allowed to stand after a lengthy VAR check for offside.
And Harwood-Bellis revealed it was a proud moment for both him and his family who were watching from the stands.
“I’ll take the goal. There was a bit of luck with it coming off John’s shot but I’ll take it,” Taylor added.
“It was quite obvious it came off me.
“When went it to VAR I thought I could be offside but fortunately it was OK.
“I’m not there to score goals but I found out I wasn’t (offside) and I’ll take it... a goal is a goal!”
Harwood-Bellis, who made his City debut earlier this season in our Carabao Cup win away at Preston, also admitted it was a special thrill to savour first hand the magic of the FA Cup.
“It’s a competition I have been watching since I was a boy and to play in front of the home fans for the first time was a great occasion for my whole family,” he added.
“They [Port Vale] did OK to start off with but we have enough quality in our team to react and bounce back and score a couple of goals like we did.”
